Article

2005-02-10 Afghanistan/South Asia

India's air force to buy up to 40 non-MiGs

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2005-02-10 2:25:09 PM|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The LCA was originally meant to use modified GE-404's, and they've had a lot of problems from trying to switch to use something else after the US embargoed them after their nuclear tests.

Has the US had a change in policy?

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-02-10 5:25:15 PM|| [http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com] 2005-02-10 5:25:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes, I think the ban was lifted a couple of years ago. Some more details:

[India News]: Bangalore, Feb 10 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) will acquire at least 20 indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCAs) soon, Air Chief SP Tyagi said today.

The Air Force will ink the 914 million-dollar deal for "Tejas", a multi-role fighter plane, with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), he said. The contract allows the force to acquire another 20 aircraft at a later stage.

"We will sign a contract for 20 LCAs, and with an option of getting 20 more I would say that up to 40 aeroplanes. The contract will come up very, very quickly," Tyagi told reporters at an international Aero show ongoing in Bangalore.

The single-engine supersonic fighter is expected to replace the IAF's aging fleet from 2010 but Tyagi assured the latest induction will in no way interfere with other acquisitions of the Air Force.

"All air forces in the world need big aircraft like SU-30, there is a place for more. I don't think we should mix the 126 aircrafts with the requirement of the LCA," he said.

The world's lightest combat aircraft, the eight-tonne "Tejas" has been designed by the government's Aeronautical Development Agency and built by the HAL. India tested its first LCA in 2001 and another version last year, and has used software-driven "fly-by-wire" technologies and advanced lightweight composite materials to build the aircraft that can be used for attack, defence and spying. (ANI)

Posted by Pappy 2005-02-10 11:40:23 PM|| 2005-02-10 11:40:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 very strange omen: Tejas was also the name of a great ZZ TOP album....

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-10 11:50:42 PM|| 2005-02-10 11:50:42 PM|| Front Page Top

17:06 Shaiter Thrutle8631
17:03 Shaiter Thrutle8631
16:45 Shaiter Thrutle8631
22:31 Glereger Cligum6229
23:54 3dc
23:50 Frank G
23:40 Pappy
23:39 Korora
23:35 Frank G
23:34 Tom
23:34 Frank G
23:29 Frank G
23:29 Sock Puppet of Doom
23:27 Frank G
23:26 Pappy
23:22 .com
23:07 mom
23:07 Pappy
22:59 Tom
22:55 Tom
22:54 Cleamp Ebbereling9442
22:48 Tom Dooley
22:39 .com
22:36 BigEd